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The "Greats"

Started by Mike Henry , Nov 25 2014 04:10 AM

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#1 Mike Henry

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 04:10 AM

I've been wondering the for quite awhile ever since I picked up an old Omni Cidex controller and some crap Champion chassis back in '09.

Who was/is considered to be the greatest of all time in the US or the southeast region to be specific and why are they considered to be that way.
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#2 Pappy

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 05:31 AM

Herman P. Finklemeyer because he invented the guide pin.  :)


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#3 tonyp

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 09:24 AM

There is no greatest of all time. Every era had their greats. No way to compare eras because so much was different.
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#4 ravajack

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 09:44 AM

Isn't Slotblog member John Tore Anderson sometimes referred to as "DaGoat" or "The GOAT", supposedly an acronym for "The Greatest Of All Time"?

Meaning that Tore is the only slot racer ever to have won major slot car racing events in five consequent decades, i.e. the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s and the 2000s.

Quite a feat, IMHO.
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#5 Hworth08

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 09:51 AM

Slot racing never achieved the status to have "greats" such as Richard Petty or A.J. Foyt.


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#6 The Number of

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 09:58 AM

John Cauthen, end of discussion.
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#7 Cheater

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 10:04 AM

He's a legend in his own mind!
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Gregory Wells

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#8 The Number of

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 10:11 AM

And that's a mind you do not want to know about!
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#9 MG Brown

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 10:35 AM

I would nominate Bob Rule because of his tireless promotion of the hobby/sport with not nearly enough thanks or credit IMO.


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#10 Cheater

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 11:17 AM

Or Ray Gardner...
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Gregory Wells

Never forget that first place goes to the racer with the MOST laps, not the racer with the FASTEST lap

#11 Uncle Fred

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 03:22 PM

Howie Ursaner, Sandy Gross, Paul Cicarello, Beuf.


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#12 Tex

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 04:25 PM

Slot racing never achieved the status to have "greats" such as Richard Petty or A.J. Foyt.

 
I don't think slot racing not achieving a certain status precludes it from having "greats" within its own domain.
 
As Tony said, there have been "greats" in slot racing through the decades; as the old guard retires, the young guns are always coming up.
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#13 MSwiss

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 05:18 PM

Howie Ursaner, Sandy Gross, Paul Cicarello, Beuf.

All great choices.

I'll add Steube, Limpach, Montague, Pfeiffer, and Watson.

As far as most important figure in commercial slot racing, Ken MacDowell.


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#14 Uncle Fred

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 05:32 PM

Why not Swiss while you're at it?
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#15 bbr

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 06:41 PM

Tony Porcelli, 20+ HOPRA National Championships.


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#16 redbackspyder

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 09:16 PM

Cukras, Schmid, Steube, Anderson, Warmack, PdL, these guys all stood the test of time...


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#17 Matt Sheldon

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Posted 25 November 2014 - 10:11 PM

Just due to all the disciplines, scales, era's, technology changes it would really be difficult to pinpoint just one without categorizing all the previously mentioned. Then of course there would always be the debate between statistical greatness and the voice of the people. I would venture to guess that world rankings and championships should be included and that there are many Czech's, Brazilians, etc. that could be included if that is the case. If not now, at some point Beuf would be a sure thing in my book to make the list. From an average of dominance alone for what is close to a couple decades the guy has been the man to beat in his sector of the hobby. 

 

Then the argument over which events were/are of "most" importance with paving the way to becoming a historical figure within the hobby. There is no doubt that slot car history is full of drivers that have accomplished hobby / industry changing feats as well as paved the way for slot car racing as we know it today. Is a driver that has won 20+ legitimate nationals and been a top 5 world driver over a 10 year span considered "less great" than a driver that has been around for 4 decades but has accomplished less achievement wise? 

 

I do not know the stats and all the historical figures within this hobby, but I do know that there are some really, really good young and old racers in our hobby right now. Retro racing allows us to be affiliated with the legends and forefathers of this hobby and that is pretty cool. What is even cooler is that regardless of a drivers normal race discipline we are witnessing hybrid crossover racers that are able to compete in other slot car disciplines and enjoy the same success regardless. It is a good time to be involved in slot car racing.


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#18 endbelldrive

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 02:46 AM

There's a fellow by the name of Howie who burst on the scene recently. He seems pretty good. :scratch_one-s_head:


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#19 tonyp

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 08:22 AM

One thing that makes it hard to compare eras is, for instance, when Howie was at his peak, it was also the era where most Mains had a handful of runners that made it through without blowing up. If you read all the big race reports carnage from crappy tracks that launched and hot power that blew up motors were the way of the day.

 

Howie probably led more big races only to blow up than anyone else.


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#20 Danny Zona

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 09:16 AM

I would like to think I'm great, great-looking. Ha-ha.


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#21 Uncle Fred

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 10:16 AM

If we start talking about the best-looking racers... this could get real wierd real fast!


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#22 Tex

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Posted 26 November 2014 - 10:17 AM

"Best-looking slot racer" = oxymoron


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Richard L. Hofer

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#23 Pappy

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Posted 27 November 2014 - 07:29 AM

Go to a Retro race, it looks like an old geezer convention.


Jim "Butch" Dunaway 
 
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#24 The Number of

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Posted 27 November 2014 - 08:35 AM

That's because it is.
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#25 Uncle Fred

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Posted 27 November 2014 - 09:04 AM

Have you had a look at who races Group 7s? Not exactly a bunch of kids.
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